'Black Panther,' 'Early Man' reach Asheville movie theaters

New this week

"Black Panther," superhero action, PG-13. After the events of "Captain America: Civil War," T'Challa, aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), returns home to Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent a world war. Opens Feb. 16 at Grail Moviehouse, with previews shows Feb. 15 at chain theaters.

"Early Man," animation, PG. The team at Aardman Animations ("Chicken Run," "Arthur Christmas," "The Pirates!") are back with a comedy set at the dawn of time, when a prehistoric tribe battles Bronze Age enemies. Opens Feb. 16 at chain theaters.

"In the Fade," crime drama, R. In this Golden Globe winner for best Motion Picture-Foreign Language, from Germany, a young woman named Katja's life collapses after the death of her husband and son in a bomb attack. After a time of mourning and injustice, Katja seeks revenge. Opens Feb. 16 at Grail Moviehouse.

Taylor James is the title character in 'Samson,' about the reluctant Old Testament hero.(Photo: Samson Movie Production LLC)

"Samson," biblical epic, PG. After losing the love of his life to a cruel Philistine prince, Samson (Taylor James), a young Hebrew with supernatural strength defends his people, sacrificing everything to avenge his love, his people and his God. With Billy Zane, Rutgar Hauer and Caitlin Leahy as Delilah. From the Christian-focused movie studio Pure Flix Entertainment.

Also playing

* Designates a movie nominated for one or more Academy Awards.

* "Call Me By Your Name," drama, R, Grade: B-plus. One summer in the 1980s, a 17-year-old (Timothee Chalamet) develops a crush on his parents' 20-something houseguest (Armie Hammer) at their villa in Italy. A favorite among movie critics and festival audiences. With Michael Shuhlbarg. At Grail Moviehouse.

* "Coco," animated, PG, Grade: A. On the Day of the Dead, 12-year-old aspiring musician Miguel finds himself trapped in the Land of the Dead, and he must solve a family mystery before he can return home. The first all-new Pixar film since "The Good Dinosaur" features an all-Latino voice cast, including Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt. At Asheville Pizza & Brewing.

* "Darkest Hour," historical drama, PG-13 Grade: B-plus. Winston Churchill's battle to convince Great Britain to continue to battle Germany in his first weeks as Prime Minister is the focus of this Joe Wright-directed film, this year's third to focus (at least in part) on the evacuation at Dunkirk. At Flat Rock Cinema.

"Den of Thieves," crime drama, R, Grade: B-minus. This gritty saga follows the parallel lives of an elite unit of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and the state's most successful bank robbers as the outlaws plan a complicated heist at the Federal Reserve Bank. With Gerard Butler and rapper 50 Cent.

* "The Disaster Artist," R, biographical comedy, Grade: B-plus. The story of Tommy Wiseau (James Franco), writer-director and star of "The Room," a 2003 movie widely considered to be among the worst ever made — a reputation that has made it a cult favorite. With Dave Franco. Showing at 10 p.m. Feb. 16-22 at Asheville Pizza & Brewing.

"The 15:17 to Paris," fact-based thriller, PG-13. Clint Eastwood directs three actual young American veterans, playing themselves, in a reenactment of their intervention in a terrorist attack on a train in France, along with other episodes from their lives. See the review on Page XX.

"Fifty Shades Freed," romantic thriller, R, Grade: D. In the concluding installment of the E.L. James' trilogy, Anastasia and Christian get married, but Jack Hyde continues to threaten their relationship. If you know and care what that sentence means, this is the movie for you. Otherwise, pick something with a train in it.

* "The Greatest Showman," musical, PG, Grade: D. A full-on Technicolor movie musical "inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum," as the marketing phrases it. In other words, it's more fantasy than history, with original music and songs and Hugh Jackman as Barnum. With Michelle Williams and Zac Ephron. At Flat Rock Cinema and other locations.

* "I, Tonya," historical comedy drama, R, Grade: C. Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) rises through the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband (Sebastian Stan) intervenes. With Golden Globe and SAG awards winner Allison Janney as Tonya's mother. At the Fine Arts Theatre and other locations. At Fine Arts Theatre and other locations.

"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," action comedy, PG-13, Grade: B. A sequel only in title and concept (kids trapped in a game) to the 1995 original. This time four teenagers are ill-matched to jungle adventure video game avatars played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan, and the humor derives mostly from the discrepancy between the avatars and the teens inhabiting them (nerd becomes The Rock; mean girl is Jack Black, etc.). Except Hart, who just plays Hart.

* "Lady Bird," dramedy, R, Grade: A. A teenager (Saoirse Ronan) weighed down by the low expectations of everyone around her, sets out to make her mark. The movie is already a hit in very limited release, and Oscar buzz is high for Laurie Metcalf, as Lady Bird's mother. At Grail Moviehouse.

"The Maze Runner: The Death Cure," young adult sci fi, PG-13, Grade: C-plus. In the third and final installment in the "Maze Runner" post-apocalyptic trilogy, young hero Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his allies (Will Poulter, et al) embark on a mission to find a cure for the deadly disease known as the "Flare." With Aidan Gillen and Patricia Clarkson as the seemingly evil adults in charge.

"The Oscar Nominated Short Films," programs of short films, not rated. Grades: B-plus (animated), A (live action). This year's Academy Award nominees in the animation and live action (narrative) categories are shown exclusively and for a limited time at Grail Moviehouse. A program of the nominated documentary shorts opens Feb. 23.

"Paddington 2," family comedy, PG, Grade: B. Paddington, the snappily dressed bear, now happily settled with the Brown family, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only to have the gift stolen. With Ben Whishaw (voicing Paddington), Hugh Bonneville and villain Hugh Grant.

"Peter Rabbit," family comedy, PG. Domhnall Gleeson plays the human mortal enemy to the titular garden-raiding rabbit (voiced by James Corden). Expect a story closer to "Home Alone," with computer-animated rabbits in the Macaulay Culkin role, than to Beatrix Potter's children's classic, although the movie does include Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail.

* "Phantom Thread," period drama, R, Grade: B-plus. In 1950s London, Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who becomes his muse and lover. Day-Lewis has said this will be the final role in his acting career. At Grail Moviehouse and other locations.

* "The Shape of Water," period sci-fi, R, Grade: A. One of the most awards-nominated movies of the year finally arrives, from director Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth"). Set in a 1950s movies-inspired Cold War era, the movie imagines a creature similar to the Black Lagoon monster (Doug Jones of "Star Trek: Discovery") imprisoned in a lab, where he bonds with a mute cleaning woman (Sally Hawkins). Co-starring Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon and Octavia Spencer. At the Fine Arts Theatre and other locations.

* "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," PG-13, science fiction epic, Grade: B-plus. This is "Episode VIII" in a series of movies you may have heard of. This one starts with Rey (Daisy Ridley) learning the Jedi ways from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The rest of the "Force Awakens" crew also returns, except for the late Han Solo. (Spoiler!)

* "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," crime dramedy, R, Grade: B-plus. The mother (Frances McDormand) of a murdered daughter angers the local sheriff (Woody Harrelson) when she pays for three bilboards taking him to task for not solving the case. Filmed in and around Sylva and other WNC locations.

"12 Strong," war drama, R. Loosely based on the experiences of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11, which must work with an Afghan warlord to fight the Taliban. With Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon and William Fichtner.

"Winchester," horror, R, Grade: D-plus. Inspired by the actual Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, built and endlessly expanded with no master plan but without pause from 1884-1922, this horror movie imagines a battle between eccentric firearm heiress Sarah Winchester (Helen Mirren) and the ghosts of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle. With Jason Clarke.